Potato-digger



(No Model.)

J11). PERRY.

POTATO mean. No. 506,069. I Patented Oct. 3 1893.

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. [Wren/Z0?"- 7%4/Z-z/wwe w w fif rr y 7. ju g NITED STATES JUDSON D. PERRY, OF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN.

POTA'TO-DIGGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,069, dated October 3, 1893.

Application filed January 29, 1892. Renewed August 19, 1893. Serial No. 483,576. (No model.)

ing had therein to the accompanying drawlngs.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in potato diggers, and the invention consists in the peculiar construction,

arrangement and combination of the various parts as more fully hereinafter'described.

The invention herein described is intended to be an improvement upon my Letters Patout No. 383,488 of May 29, 1888.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a detached perspective of one of the cutters. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the bagging device. Fig. 5 is a front elevation.

A are the main ground wheels which are connected together by the axle B which is the drive axle. O is the frame secured to this axle and extending forwardly .therefrom secured at its forward end to the forward truck D, to which is secured any 'of the usual draft devices such as the tongue E. The frame consists of the horizontal side bars a slightly diverging from the rear cross-bar b, and extending to near the front of the machine. 0 and d are arched or semi-circular connecting bars at the forward end of this frame. These arched connecting bars are braced by means of the rod or bar 6 centrally arranged. Depending centrally from the forward bar a is the arm f having the horizontal extension g which is pivotally connected to the truck D by means of the king bolt 71.. This king bolt Ipreferably make in the form of a screw having the hand wheel '6 at the upper end so that the forward end of the frame may be vertically adjusted for the purpose of adjustin gthe scoop which is carried thereby to regulate the depth of its out.

My plow is formed by a rotating scoop F preferably formed by means of the rings G and H, the rear ring H being slightly smaller than the forward ring, and the two being connected by the bars I. The front ring G tapers from the rear edge toward the front, forming a cutting edge to the plow. This scoop is supported in position by means of the rollers J secured in the downward extensions K of the arched cross-bars c and d, as plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. These rollers are located below the center of the scoop. Rollers L journaled centrally in the arched cross-bars c and d receive the upward thrust of the scoop when in use. The rear rollerL is preferably flanged to embrace a circular rack M formed upon the periphery of the ring H, preventing end motion of the scoop in use. A rotary motion is imparted to this scoop by means of the gear wheel M upon the shaft N journaled in stationary bearings in the frame, having the beveled pinion O at its rear end, meshing with the beveled gear wheel P driven from the drive wheel by means of the ratchet Q.

R are spiral flanges secured within the drum and extending inwardly, having plows S at their forward ends extending slightly beyond the front edge of the ring G, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. T are a secon-dseries of these flanges provided with corresponding knives T, the flanges T being short onesextending but a short distance within the scoop, while a series B extend to the rear thereof. These flanges not only aid in carrying the dirt part way around in the revolution of the scoop to throw it back again upon the bottom of the cage, but work it toward the rear edge, sifting the dirt through and carrying the potatoes which are finally delivered to the elevator U, passing over the wheels U at top and bottom of the inclined elevator frame, as shown in Fig. 2.

V are guide rods extending parallel with the elevator and above the same, and upon which the vines are-adapted to be carried, by means of the fingers V secured to the elevator belt and of sulficient length to project above the rails V.

V is an extension of the rails V to deliver the vines in the rear of the machine clear of the potato bagging mechanism.

The elevator is driven by means of the sprocket chain V passing over a sprocket wheel on the drive shaft of the elevator and around a sprocket wheel V on the drive shaft B of the machine. The potatoes carried up by the elevator are dropped into the hopper W secured to the rear of the machine, which has a single delivery aperture WV, across which the plate W is adapted to be reciprocated. This plate is provided with two outlet spouts W to which bags W are adapted to be attached. The operator can remove a bag as soon as filled from that spout which does not register with the aperture W in the hopper, in the meantime having secured a bag 1 upon the other spout to receve the potatoes delivered from the machine. In this way the bagging operation may be continuously carried out, the operator standing upon a platform X extending rearwardly from the frame, as shown in Fig. 2.

Y is a seat for the driver, secured to the frame in any desired manner.

It is evident that after the scoop has been adjusted to the desired point, motion being imparted to the devices, the scoop will be rotat-ed, the plows cutting into the ground and taking up the dirt with the potatoes, the dirt will be pulverized in the cage, dropping upon the ground, while the potatoes will be carried rearwardly by the screw shaped flanges and delivered to the elevator, the vines being likewise carried to the rear and delivered to the rear of the machine as described. The vines will be carried up by the teeth V and delivered clear of the rear of the machine over the bagging mechanism, while the potatoes will fall into the hopper W and may be bagged as described.

When the device is desired to be transported from place to place without having the scoop dip into the ground the front of the frame may be raised by turning the screw h, raising the scoop clear of the ground.

The plows S and T are of such shape as to cut into the soil with the least possible friction and to assist in throwing it back into the cage and scoop.

My device may be used for pulverizing the soil as well as for potato digging, and in that case the elevator may be taken 0E. The scoop taking up the soil in the manner described Will also pulverize it, delivering itbetween the bars, or at the rear. This I have found to be a most efficient device for this purpose.

What I claim as my invention isll The combination of the rotary scoop F, of the forwardly extending circumferential cutting plows thereon, and the spirally arranged flanges extending interiorly from and forming continuations of said plows, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the rotary scoop F, of the forwardly extending circumferential plows thereon, the two series of spirally arranged fianges, R and T, of ditferent lengths, arranged respectively at the ends forming extensions extending interiorly from said plows, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the axle and wheels, of the frame, consisting of side bars a, the arched connecting bars a d, the forward extension f, the downward extensions K, the rollers J supported therein, and the scoop F, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the rotary scoop, means for imparting motion thereto from the ground wheels,theelevator in the rear thereof, the rails V above the elevator, the extension V extending out from the upper ends of the rails to a point beyond the elevator and the teeth V on said elevator extending up between and above said rails, substantially as described. V

In testimony whereof Iaflfiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

JUDSON D. PERRY.

Witnesses:

M. B. ODOGHERTY, N. L. LINDOP. 

